Explosive-engine.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.`

\ f No.. 13a-,690.

J. D. LYON.

EXPLUSIVE ENGINE. APPLIUMION` FILBUD JAN. 2s, 1902.

@mms-SHEET `2.

N0 MODEL.

rFATE-S i :latenten septembre, moe;y

JESSE D. LYON, oF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,690, dated September 8, 1903. i A Application liled January `2B, 1902.. Serial No. 91,591. (No model.)

\ To a/ZZ whom ,zit may concern: l I

Be it knownthat I, JESSE D. LYON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,l have invented certain new and use` ful Improvements in Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification, 4reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a central vertical section through my improved gas-engine, the piston and valve being at their lowermostjposition, showing thecirculation of the outgoing products of combustion and the incoming scavenging current of air. Fig. 2 is a partial similar View showing the piston and valve midway. Fig.

3 is a partial similar view showing the piston and valve at the uppermost position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion ofthe valve at its lowermost position and illustrating the ilow of air to the space be- Fig. 6. through one end ofthe valve-head and valvetween the Valve-piston heads. Fig. 5 is a similar view, partly in elevation, illustrating the` slightly higher level through the mixtureinlet port. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the check-valve controlling the inletports, establishing communication from the valve-piston chamber to the combustion! chamber, the section being indicated by the line VII VII of JFig. 6. Fig. Sis a similar` A sectional view atright angles to Fig. 7 through the lowermost portion of the valve-chamber and valve indicatedby the line VIII VIII of Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view.

chamber indicateaby the une IX 1X of Eig. s.

My invention refers to improvements in eX- plosive-engines ofthe type known as a twocycleengine,A and relates more particularly `to the valvefor controlling the incoming air Aand gasand theresultant mixture and the .withother details of construction', as shall be y valve-chamber, ports, and valve for control-v ling and directing the air and gases, together morefully hereinafter set forth.

One of the objects is to obviate in a simple l manner the necessity of introducingthe gas- `-eous fuelinto the scavenging charge of air until after the products of combustion have been sufficiently lowered in temperature as` i the loss of fuel through the exhaust-ports` during the scavenging process.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the main frame of the engine, which is verticalyin type, in the upper portion of which is mounted the cylinder 3, having the piston 4 connected with the crank of the engine by the usual pistonrod, cross-head, and pitman, the cylinder and its head also being provided with circulationchambers, to and from which water is conducted by the inlet and outlet pipes 5 and 6. 3 Around the lower portion of the cylinder is a chamber 7, into which air is conducted by a pipe 8, provided with a check-valve 9, permitting an inflow of air into the chamber 7 upon the 'upward stroke of the piston, but preventL ing its return upon the downstroke.

The chamber 7, at one side of the cylinder, extends upwardly, as shown, and communicates with the interior of the cylinder by a series of ports l0, arranged along one side through the shell of. the cylinder on a common level, which level corresponds with and is just above the lowermost level of the top of the piston at the termination of its Adownstroke. l

On Vthe opposite side off the cylinder, per- `forating its shell at a slightly higher level, are a series of similar ports l1, communicating with a common exhaust-chamber 12 in the side of the cylinder, from which, by an exhaust-pipe 13, the products of combustion are led outwardly from theengine. y Y. The piston `et is provided with an upwardlyextending apron or deilector i4, adapted to deliver the scavenging current of air upwardly to the interior of the combustionchamber and to force out the products of l combustion throughthe ports .l1 at .thelowermost position of the piston.l Such scavenging action will be facilitated by the considerable pressure to which the air in chamber 7 willbe raised by the downstroke of the pisby partial exhaust through the previouslysurrounding the valve-stem 28.

uncovered exhaust-ports 11.

Located at one side of the cylinder 3, either cast integral with it or made in a separate piece, is the valve-cylinder 15, into the upper end of which, either through an extended portion of the cylinder-head or in the top of cylinder 15 itself, is introduced the gas-inlet pipe 16, leading from any source of supply and provided with the check-valve 17, permitting'an inflow of gas, but preventing its return.v To the lower end of cylinder 15 isv 'connected Ain'a similar manner an air-inlet pipe 18, provided with a checkvalve 19, adapted to permit an inflow of air to the lower end of the valve-cylinder, but preventing its return in the same manner.

Mounted in the cylinder and adapted to travel longitudinally therein is the mixturevalve consisting of the two heads 2O 20, secured to a piston-rod 21, connected with the cross-head of the engine and adapted to operate in conformity with the stroke of the piston 4. The heads of this mixture-valve (shown more fully in Fig. 8 of the drawings) are provided, as shown, with a series of perforatingports 22, extending longitudinally from one end to the other and covered on the inner end of each head by-a check-valve 23. An intervening spring 24, surrounding the stem 21, is adapted to exert pressure in both directions and to normally keep such check valves seated.

Located between the mixture-valve cylinder and the engine-cylinder, mounted in a casing 25, secured to both cylinders, is a checkvalve 26, normally held seated by a spring 27, Leading to the under portion of such check-valve from the middle portion of the mixture-valve chamberindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5)',which ports and check-valve are for the purpose of admitting the compressed mixture into the com- -bustion-chamber during the upward travel of the engine-piston after'the products of and on-the upward stroke the same charge` 'will -be compressed, while a similar charge of jairwill be drawn in by the pipe 18, and at the latterportion of the upward stroke the upper check-valve 23 will be forced down by stroke the inclosed mixture, which is thus l brought up to a considerable degree of compression between the heads 20, will when the upper head 20 has passed above port 29 escape outwardly through said port, raising check-valve 26 and escaping through port '30 into the interior of the combustion-chamber of cylinder 3 at high velocity in advance of the upwardly-rising piston 4, thereby becoming thoroughly mixed with the body of air therein at lower pressure fromV chamber 7. The resulting mixture will then be compressed by 'the piston to the point of ignition, which may be by hot tube, electric spark, or other suitable means. The pressure in the cylinder during combustionand expansion being higher than the pressure of the mixture between the heads 2O does not permit the opening of check-valve 26 during the downstroke of the piston at the point when port 30 is uncovered by the piston in its downward stroke, thereby preventing the premature escape of the mixture into the combustion-chamber. Such premature escape of the mixture is further prevented during the remainder ofthe downstroke by the upper head 2O covering port 29, thus preventing the mixture from prematurely escaping into the cylinder and mingling with the burned gases and passing out with them through ports 11. At the beginning of the upstroke, simultaneous with the covering of ports 11 and previous to covering of port 30 by piston 4, the upper head 2O will have uncovered port 29, permittingthe mixture between the heads'20 to lift check-valve 26 and rush with high velocity through port 30 into the cylinder, forming, with the air therein from chamber 7, a mixture of proportions which will become explosive when brought to proper compression in the combustion-chamber of the cylinder. The piston 4 is provided with an upwardly-extending deflector 14, the purpose of which is to throw the scavengingcurrent upwardly through the top of the cylinder and forcing downwardly and outwardly the burned gases; As thus constructed and operated it will be observed that the engine is capable of an explosion at each revolution, the operation of taking in the gas and air .through the heads of the valve taking place 'at each up-and-down stroke and to discharge the compressed mixture in the compressingchamber through port 30 occurring at the termination of 'each downward stroke of the piston.

It will be understood that suitable governing, lubricating, or other necessary devices may be included in the general construction;

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-suitable fuel may be substituted for gas, as

1but inasmuch as suchxlo not form any part lof the present invention they'have not been -herein specifically shown or described.

It will be observed that the mixture-valve,

mechanism necessary in many forms of gasengines, and the resulting operation is there-` by i greatly facilitated. i

4It will be obvious that the air and gas inlet-openings and supply pipes 16 and 18 may with equally good results; also that any other hydrocarbon vapor, oil, &c.

Changes and variations may be made by the` `skilled mechanicin the design, construction, proportions, or other details without depart- .ing from my invention, and I desire to in-` ;cludeall such as Within the scope of the folcylinder and communicating with the interior lowing claims.

`What I claim is- 'g l. A gas-engine, provided with a cylinder,

anair-compressing chamber exterior to the thereof,exhaust-portsleadingoutwardlyfrom the cylinder, andf a `mixture -valve chamber provided with a `compressing -valve having check-controlled inlets opening into its inte-` y rior, and aport leading from the compressingchamber to the cylinder. i

2. A gas-engine comprising a cylinder, a piston, an airy-compressing chamber exterior tothe cylinder and communicating with the y interior, a valve -controlled air-inlet for the compressing-chamber, exhaust-ports leading outwardly from the cylinder, and a mixturevalve chamber having independent air and gas supply openings, with a compressing-` valve having check-controlled inlets opening intoits interior, and a communicating opening from the mixture-,valve chamber to the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

3, y A' gas-engine consisting of a cylinder, a

y piston, an air-compressing chamber exterior to the cylinder and communicating with the` interior, a valve-controlled inlet therefor, exhaus t-ports leadingoutwardly fromvthe cylinder, a valve-chamber communicating with the i cylinder, provided with airandgas inlet openings, `and a double-headed compressing-valve provided withcheck-controlled inlets adapted to compressthe air and gas at the ends and to inclose the explosive Amixture between the heads. 4,

4:. A gas-engine consisting of a cylinder,.a piston, an air-compressing chamber exterior to-the cylinder and communicating `with the interior, a, valvecontrolled inlet therefor, exav haust-ports .leadingoutwardly from the .cyl-

inder, a valve-chamber communicating with.

the cylinder provided with .valve-controlled lair and gas inlet openings, and a double- `adapted to compress the air and gas at the ends and to inclose the compressed mixture between the heads and deliver it to the cylinder, and means for igniting the mixture. be used interchangeably for either air or gas l 6. A gas-engine consisting of a cylinder, a piston, exhaust-ports leading from the cylin der, avalve-chamber communicating with the cylinder, valve-controlled air and gas ports opening thereinto at each end, a double-headed piston-valve provided with valve-controlled perforations, adapted to compressthe air and gas at the ends and to inclose the compressed mixture between the heads and deliver it to the cylinder, and means for igniting the mixture.

7. A gas-engine consisting ofa cylinder, a

piston provided with a piston-rod and `crosshead, exhaust-ports leading from the cylinder, a valve-chamber communicatingwith the cylinder, valve-controlled airand gas ports opening into the valve-chamber at each end, a double-headed piston-valve provided with perforated ports and spring-controlled closu res therefor, adapted to compress the air and gas at the ends of the chamber and to inclose the compressed mixture between the heads and to deliver it to the cylinder, a piston-valve rod connected with the cross-head, and means for igniting the mixture. i i

8. A gas-engine consisting of a cylinder, a

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piston, exhaust-ports leading from the-cylinder, a valve-chamber communicating with the cylinder, an intervening checkfvalve, air and gas ports opening into the valve-chamber at each end, a double-headed piston-valve i provided with valve -controlled perforations, adapted to compress the air and gas at the ends of the valve-chamber and to inclose the compressed mixture between the heads and to deliver it through the check-valve-con- `trolled communication to the cylinder, and

means for igniting the mixture. i

9. In combination with the cylinder of an explosive engine a mixture chamber communicating therewith, provided with an air-- inlet at one end, a gas-inlet at the other end, and a compressing-valve consisting of perforated piston-heads, mounted on a common stem, closures for `the perforations, and'la spring adapted to keep the closures seated.

10.. In combination with the cylinder ofan explosiveengine, a mixture chamber provided with an air-inlet at one end', afgas-inletat the. other end, a valve-controlled passage leading from the chamber to thecylinder;"and-l 'lIO a compressing-valve consisting of perforated piston -heads mounted on a common stem, closures for the perforations, and a spring adapted to keep the closures seated.

l1. A mixture-valve .for explosive-engines consisting of separate piston-heads,longitudi nal ports therethrough, disks adapted to cover said ports on the inner ends of the heads, and a spring adapted to exert pressure against the disks. i

12. In combination with a cylinder and piston of a gas-engine, a mixture-chamber communicating with the cylinder, and a doubleheaded compressing-valve therein, provided with perforated ports and inner spring-controlled closures therefor, with means for actuating the valve, whereby its stroke corresponds with the stroke of the piston.

13. A gas-engine consisting of a working cylinder provided with a piston, exhaust, air and mixture ports, an auxiliary mixture-cylH inder, a movable compressing-chamber there-l in, a passage from the mixture-cylinder com- Vmunicating from the mixture-port with the working cylinder, and a valve in said passage controlled by difference in pressure in the two cylinders, substantially as set forth.

14. A gas-engine consisting of a Working cylinder, provided with a piston, exhaust, air and mixture ports, and an auxiliary fuel-com'- pressing cylinder, with a double-headed piston therein provided with passages through its heads forming communications between the cylinder-spaces at-the ends of the piston, and the spaces between the piston-heads, substantially as set forth.

15. A gas-engine consisting of a Working cylinder provided with a piston, exhaust, air

- and mixture ports, and an auxiliary fuel-compressing cylinder, with a double-headed pis- -ton therein provided with passages through inlet-ports through the piston-heads, and

spring-controlled check-valves seating upon the inner faces of said piston-heads, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE D. LYON. Witnesses:

C. M. CLARKE, JAS. J. MCAFEE. 

